NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) observed two X-class solar flares on Tuesday. A Coronal mass ejection (CME) was associated with the solar flares, but large-scale geomagnetic activity is not expected.

The first of two solar flares erupted on Tuesday. The X2.2 solar flare peaked at 7:42 p.m. EDT. NASA/SDO/Goddard/Wiessinger

The first solar flare occurred on Tuesday at 7:42 a.m. EDT. The X2.2 solar flare erupted from active sunspot region 2087 (AR 2087), the NOAA NWS Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reported. An X-class solar flare is the most intense type of flare, as an X2 flare is twice as powerful as an X1 flare and an X3 flare is three times as powerful as an X1. For comparison purposes, X-class solar flares are 10 times more intense than M-class solar flares.